This Pakistani Policeman’s Selfie is Bringing Smiles in India and Pakistan

Pakistan released 218 Indian fishermen on Thursday. This is quite a routine in our part of the world when fishermen from India cross over Pakistani waters and vice versa.

But something interesting happened this time. One small gesture by a Pakistani policeman has got social media on both sides of the border talking.

His selfie with several Indian fisherman celebrating their release, has taken the social media by storm. It has become an internet sensation and has been covered by new portals across the border.

As the fishermen were being released to travel to Lahore via the Cantonment railway station Karachi, a policeman took a selfie, with several fishermen waving hands behind him. The picture of the scenes of jubilation being witnessed are enough to bring a smile to everyone’s face.

The picture in question is being actively shared by Pakistanis and Indians, and it is widely lauded as a positive gesture shown by the Pakistani policeman.

Social media users are calling it “Selfie Diplomacy Pakistan-India”, named after the famous cricket diplomacy during the 80s.

Twitterati and Facebookers are taking this very positively. Even Indian users and bloggers have have recognized the positive gesture.

“They are being released by the orders of the federal government,” said Ali Hassan Setho, a superintendent of Police in Karachi.

Fishermen from India who were held captive for crossing territorial waters wave from the windows of a train after their release, at Cantonment railway station in Karachi, Pakistan, January 5, 2017. REUTERS/Akhtar Soomro

Not only did Pakistan release these fishermen, but they were treated very nicely as well. Edhi officials say that each fisherman was given Rs. 500 and gifts before their journey to Lahore.

It is also worth mentioning here that this is the second such gesture by the Pakistan government in just two weeks. Pakistan also released 220 fisherman at Quaid-e-Azam’s Birthday (25th December 2016). Pakistani government expects that the release of these fishermen will ease the tensions across borders and Indian government will reciprocate this action.